The shades possess a futuristic appeal, similar to those worn in The Matrix, which is cited by Keburia as inspiration. “I was thinking about many shapes. I wanted [them] to be really sleek and classic,” Keburia tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

They are indeed sleek, narrow, and classic just as Keburia intended. And while they are not entirely practical, that doesn’t seem to be a deterrent for the fashion community (remember clear plastic jeans?).

Keburia is part of a rising group of fashion talents hailing from Tbilisi. “I’m super-happy thatthe attention is so big, because two or three years ago, no one was paying attention to us. We were a very small country. Poor,” he says.

Keburia’s success is inspiring, considering he is entirely self-taught. And interestingly, if he hadn’t become a fashion designer, he says he would have pursued a career in tennis. “I think since childhood I wanted to become a fashion designer,” he says. “I also [wanted] to become a tennis player.I loved tennis a lot, yes, but it was too late for me. I started training at 15.” He soon began to design on the side while pursuing a degree in business management, but school didn’t last long. “I just left it and started doing collections,” he says.

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A model walks in George Keburia’s runway show in May during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Tbilisi. (Photo: Courtesy of George Keburia/Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Tbilisi)

Although Keburia’s success can be attributed to eyewear, his ready-to-wear collections should not be discounted. His recent collection, shown during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tbilisi, showcased his design skills, drawing inspiration from vintage naval uniforms while infusing them with pops of color and a futuristic twist. (Outfits were paired with sunglasses, of course.)

Keburia admits he’s been shocked by the global success of his sunglasses. “Oh, it’s crazy for me,” he says. “I didn’t expect such attention, such success. It was really huge for me.”